Light control system



Sept. 1, 1936. F, GETTY 2,053,187 W LIGHT CONTROL SYSTEM Sept. l, 1936. F. GETTY 2,053,187

LIGHT CONTROL SYSTEM Filed April 18, 1935 3 Sheets-Sheeil 2 i l l l l I l l I I BLT?. i

| I l l l l i l l l Sept. l, 1936. F. l, GET-ry 2,053,187

LIGHT CONTROL SYSTEM Filed April 18, 1935 I5 Sheets-Sheet 3.

gmc/who@ Patented Sept. 1, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT oFFicE ucm' coN'rnoi. srs'rm ma r. ccm. minima, u. Appiicciicp April 1s, 1935, scriiu Nc. 17,091

nie invention relates to control of the lighting o! vehicles and has as an object the provision l ol a system of control enabling the display of three I characters of lights either in sequence or in all ternation between a choice of two of said lights. It is an object of the invention to provide 'a mechanical switch to bring electro-magnetic switches into operation for said selective actuation under control of a single circuit closer. l It is a further object o! the invention to provide control of the lights of a vehicle provided with lights of three characters as bright, tilt, or dim, whereby said lights may be displayed in sequence or whereby a choice of two as bright 1,5, anddim, or tilt and dim, may be displayed in alternation upon successive operations of a single circuit closer.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a manually operated switch having a plu- N rality oi operative bridges to place the electromagnetic switches referred to into the desired i connection with a circuit closer.

Further objects of the invention will appear from the following description when read in connection with the accompanying drawings showing an illustrative embodiment of the invention, and wherein:-

Flg. 1 is a plan view of a manual switch; Fig. 2 is a vertical section on line 2-2 of Fig. l; a Fig. 3 is a detail section on line 3-3 of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a collective view showing the contact blocks of the manual switch in side elevation and approximately in their relative positions oc- 88 curring in the manual switch;

Fig. 5 is a diagram of circuits;

Fig. 6 is an end view of a diierent form of manual switch:

Pig. 'I is a plan view of the structure of Fig. 6;

0 Pig. 8 is a plan view of the rotatable contact cylinder;

Fig. 9 is a detail end view of the locking pawl and ratchet arrangement; and

Figs. 10 to 13 inclusive are side views of the a respective contact blocks.

As shown in Fig. 5, the circuits are divided under control of the manual switch in a plurality of bridges. The lights as indicated in the head lamps diagrammatically shown as bright, tilt,

and dim lights, are illustrated as three separate bulbs although it will be understood that in accordance with usual practice the bright and tilt lights may be separate illaments in a single bulb and the dim iight may-be a separate bulb.

Il Por control or the lights as indicated ai: the lett (CL T11-97) of Fig. 5, there are provided a plurality oi bridges as follows: I8, Ita, II, IIa, I2, I2, I8, Ila, I4 and I5. Ihe lights or the two head lights are shown as connected in parallel. Also at the lower left hand portion of Fig. 5,- are shown two elec- ,5, tromagnetic switches, a two-way switch at the right and a three-way switch at the left in the indicated portion of said iigure.

These electro-magnetic switches each have a contact bearing disk- I8 in the two-way switch 10 and I1 in the three-way switch. The electromagnets I8 in the two-way switch and I8 in the three-way switch are to be understood as operating the disk I5, in the two-way switch, a halfrevolution at each successive energization, and l5 the disk il in the three-way switch a third of a revolution at each successive energization.

When bridge i8 is closed, a circuit is provided from bright lights 20, through wires 2 I, 22, bridge I0, wire 23, contact 24, contact 25 upon disk I6, 20 central contact 26, wire 21, junction 28, wire 29, to battery 30 and thence to ground. When bridge I8a is closed, a circuit is provided from tilt lights 3|, Wires 32, 33, bridge lila, and successively over wires 23, etc. to battery as formerly de- 25 scribed.

When bridge II is closed, a circuit is proyided from dash light 34 and tail light 35 by wire 35, bridge II, wire 31 to junction 28 and thence to battery and ground. When bridge IIa is closed, 30 the parking light 38 is provided with a circuit through wire 39, bridge IIa, and wire 31 to junction 28 and battery.

When bridge I2 is closed, there is provided a circuit from dim lights 40, over wire 4I, bridge 35 I2, wire 42 to contact 23, contact 25 when in proper position, central contact 26, wire 2l to junction 28 and battery.

When bridge I2a is closed, a circuit is provided from the dim lights over wire 4I, to wire 44, to 4 0 contact 45, contact 48 of disk I1 when in proper position, central contact 41 of disk I1, wire 48 to junction 28 and to battery.

When bridge I3 is closed, a circuit is provided to the circuit closer 48 shown diagrammatically l45 as applied to the rim of a steering wheel, the other contact of which is shown as grounded, over wire 5Il, bridge I3, wire 5I, 'to magnets I8 of the two-way switch, wire 52 to junction 28 and battery. When bridge I3a is closed, the cir- 50 cuit closer 49 is connected by Awire 50, bridge I3a, wire 53, to magnets I9 of the three-way switch, wire 54 to junction 28 and to battery.

When the bridge I4 is closed, there is provided a circuit from bright lights 20, wire 55, bridge I4, 55

wire Il, toA contact Il, contact 4I when in proper position. central contact 41, wire 4l to battery.

When the bridge II is closed, a circuit is provided over wire Il, bridge Il, wire 50, to contact Il, contact 4l when in proper position, central contact 41, wire 4l. to Junction 2s and battery.

For convenience,rv the above bridges and the result of the closure thereof are scheduled as follows:

nudge ll-b'riight to 2-way switch Bridge llc-tilt to 2-way switch Bridge II-tail and dash direct Bridge IIa-parking direct Bridge |2-dim to 2-way switch Bridge IIa-dim to 3way switch Bridge il-B-way switch magnet and circuit closer l Bridge Ila-3way switch magnet and circuit closer Bridge Il-bright to 3way switch Bridge II--tilt to 3way switch It will be noted that the separate lights in the head lamps. the dash lamp, the tail light and the parking light are all grounded to provide the return circuit to the battery.

For closing of the respective bridges to provide the desired results, the manual switch, shown in Figures 1 to 4 inclusive, is provided. Figure 4 shows the form of contact blocks A, B, C, D, E, F, and G. which are respectively indicated in Fig. 2. To close the bridges in cooperation with the said blocks, there are shown brushes numbered to agree with the respective bridges in Figs. 1 and 2.

Brushes Il will be bridged by block A and bridges Il and Ila indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 2 will be closed by the block A contacting with the brush Il at one side of the disk il and brush ila by the ofl'set 02 of block A.

The diierent positions of the switch are marked I, II, III, IV. the positions numbered I, II, and III being secured by a movement of the top of the disk seen in Fig. 3 to the left in said figure by successive steps, and position IV will be 'secured by movement of said portion of the disk to the right one step as seen in Fig. 2.

To locate the switch in the respective positions, there is shown a pawl Il carried by resilient Il mounted in block 6I adapted to seat recess Il in the ofi' position, $1 in posiin recess Il in position II, in recess 09 in position III and in recess 'Il in position IV.

To limit the extreme movement of the disk, th ere is shown a banking pin 'Il nxed in the casing I2 of the manual switch projecting into an arcuate slot 'Il'formed in the disk and adapted to abut the ends of the slot at the extreme allowed movement of the disk.

In the diiferent positions of the disk, the

, bridges will be closed in the following manner:

Iclosesbridges Il, Il. I2, and Il IIclosesbridges ila, Ii, Il, and Il IIIcloses bridges il, lla, No, i4 and Il IVclosesbridges Ii and Ila.

nation, while the tail and dash light will be continuously shown.

In position II of the manual switch, the lights will be the same as in position I, except that the tilt light will be substituted for the bright light, bridge `lla being closed instead of bridge I0, and therefore the tilt light and the dim light will be displayed in alternation upon successive operations of the circuit closer 49.

In position III the magnets of the three-way switch will be connected to the circuit closer 49 of bridge I3a and over bridge il, the tail and dash lights will be connected directly to battery, over bridge lla the dim light will be placed into connection with contact 45 of the three-way switch, over bridges I4 and I5 respectively the contacts 46 and 51 will be connected to the tilt and bright lights respectively and over bridge lia the magnets I9 of the three-way switch will be connected to the circuit closer 49 and therefore upon successive actuations of. the circuit closer 49 the bright, tilt and dim lights will be shown in alternation.

In position IV of the switch, a circuit will be closed through the dash, tail and parking lights directly to battery. It will be understood that the circuit closer 49 may be located otherwise than upon the steering wheel, as for instance,

in the iloor of the automobile in a convenientl position for operation by the foot of the driver.

The radial positions of the blocks A-G inclusive for the diierent positions of the switch are indicated by radial dotted lines on Fig. 2 and corresponding lines are shown upon Fig. 4 to indicate the positions of the blocks in the different positions of the disk 6|.

The disk 6I is shown as carried by a stub shaft 1I, shown as revoluble ina hollow projection 15 from the casing 12. A squared socket 16 is shown for reception of an actuating shaft having a squared end. 'I'he casing portion 'I5 is shown as formed with a ange I1 by means of which the switch casing may be secured to a flange, as for instance on the lower end of a steering wheel column. When so used the shaft 'I4 is desirably provided with a through passage 18 for passage V of a horn wire.

'Ihe form of switch shown in Figures 6 to l0 inclusive comprises a housing lll having a bearing Il for the stub shaft l2 of the rotating blockcarrying cylinder and a bearing 84 for the remaining end of said cylinder formed in a coverv plate 8l which may be secured to the housing Il as by means of screws 80.

The cover plate ll is shown as formed with a ilange 81 provided with bolt holes Il by which the switch may be secured as upon the end of a steering column.

Projecting into the housing Il) there is shown a plurality of brush-carrying pins III, IIN-II, Il', which correspond to the like brushes of Figs. 1 to 3 inclusive.

The contact blocks "-94 are shown as comprising rings having eminences thereon properly located and formed to establish the 'correct contacts with the brushes as the cylinder is revolved to the four positions indicated in dotted lines on Fig. l0. and as located by the pawls I3'. The operation is precisely the same as that of the form shown in Figs. l to 4 inclusive and will be understood from the description of the precedlns form.

'Ihe ratchet ring Il is shown as provided with a stop member 1I which will contact one of the pawls 63' at the limit of movement of revolution of the cylinder 83 in either direction.

For purpose of a diagrammatic showing, the electro-magnetic switches are shown as revolving the contact disks one-third and one-half revolution at each successive impulse. However, use is contemplated of magnetic switches of the character described and claimed in my copending application Serial No. 627,288, illed August 2, 1932, for Electric switch, wherein two circuits are alternated or three circuits closed in succession by less than one-half or one-third revolutions of the disks respectively.

Minor changes may be made in the physical embodiment of the invention within the scope of, the appended claims without departing from the spirit thereof.

I claim:

l. Light control for vehicles provided with plural light equipment comprising, in combination: an electromagnetic switch having a plurality of contacts; a circuit closer; manual switch-means having a plurality of operative positions; and electrical connections placing difierent lights in circuit with said contacts in diilerent positions of the manual switch-means, and said circuit closer in circuit with the magnets of the electromagnetic switch in each said position, whereby to display chosen difierent lights by successive actuations of said circuit closer.

2. Light control for vehicles provided with plural light equipment comprising, in combination: a switch having a plurality of contacts brought into action serially by successive actuations ot the switch; switch-means having a plurality of operative positions; and electrical connections placing different lights in circuit with certain oi the respective contacts of the first-named switch in different positions of said switch-means for display of a choice of different lights by successive actuations of said first named switch.

3. Light control for vehicles provided with plural light equipment comprising, in combination: an electromagnetic switch to cause display oi either oi' two of said lights in alternation; a circuit closer to cause energization of the magnets of said switch; and switch means to place the circuit closer inte circuit with the magnets of the switch and the two desired characters of head lights into circuit with contacts of the electromagnetic switch for alternate display.

4. Light control for vehicles provided with plural light equipment comprising, in combination: an electromagnetic switch to display said lights in sequence; an electromagnetic switch to display two of said lights in alternation; a circuit closer to energize the magnet of either of said switches; and switch means to place the circuit closer in circuit with the magnet of the desired switch and the desired character of lamp equipment into circuit with contacts of the chosen electromagnetic switch.

5. A light control system for vehicles equipped with a tail light and three character head lights comprising, in combination: an electromagnetic switch to display either of two of said headlights in alternation; a circuit closer to cause energization of the magnets of said switch; and switch means to connect the magnets of said switch with said circuit closer, a desired two of said lights with contacts of said electromagnetic switch and said tail light to battery with any choice of head lights.

6. A light control system for vehicles equipped with a tail light and three character head lights comprising, in combination: an electromagnetic switch to display said lights in sequence upon successive energizations; an electromagnetic switch to display a desired two of said lights in alternation upon successive energizations; a circuit closer; and switch means to connect each of said lights to respective contacts of the first named switch and the magnets thereof to the circuit closer, choices of two of said lights to the respective contacts of the second named switch and the magnets of the latter to the circit closer in other positions thereof and said tail light to battery in any of said positions.

7. Light control for vehicles provided with plural light equipment, comprising, in combination: a switch having a plurality of fixed contacts and a movable contact shiftable serially into contact with said rst-named contacts by successive actuations of the switch; switch-means comprising a member movable to any one of a plurality of positions co-acting with a plurality of circuit closing elements in each of certain of said positions; and electrical connections between the respective lamps of a plural light equipment and said switch-means and between the latter and said ilrst-named switch whereby successive actuation of the ilrst-named switch causes serial illumination of chosen diierent lamps.

FRED I. GETTY. 

